Mistress of Lies

By: K. M. Enright

Narrated by: Christine Allado

A villainous, bloodthirsty heroine finds herself plunged into the dangerous world of power, politics and murder in the court of the vampire king in this dark romantic fantasy debut.

Fate is a cruel mistress.

The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeC laire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.

Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he's drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he's worked so hard to avoid - and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.

Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Blood Worker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan's plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.

Fans of From Blood and Ash and Kingdom of the Wicked will devour this decadent, bloodthirsty debut.

Critic reviews

"[A] riveting and remarkably assured dark fantasy debut. Enright’s richly atmospheric prose immerses readers in a meticulously crafted world, where familiar vampire tropes are skillfully subverted. The high-stakes romance subplot, featuring a polyamorous relationship and trans representation, adds depth and tension to the narrative. Calling to mind the works of both Anne Rice and V.E. Schwab, this tale of magic, murder, and ambition will captivate fans of dark, political fantasy." —Publishers Weekly (Starred)

"Mistress of Lies held me captive from the very first page. What a story—dark and gripping, raw and beautifully imagined. With their stunning prose, compelling morally gray characters, inventive magic system, and knack for piercingly heartfelt moments amidst all the horror and intrigue, K.M. Enright is definitely one to watch."—Thea Guanzon, USA Today, New York Times, and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars

"Mistress of Lies is a dark, twisting fantasy that grabs you by the throat with claws and refuses to let you go– a blood-stained, heart wrenching romance balanced on the knife’s edge of revolution. Luxurious and beautifully cruel."—Andrew Joseph White, NYT bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us

"Politics, family, and desire weave a tangled web across a decadent, blood-soaked city in this stunning debut. Dark, dangerous, and entrancing!”—Melissa Caruso, author of The Obsidian Tower

“Enright weaves a stunning tale ripe with political scheming, fascinating magic, and deliciously complicated characters you can’t help but root for. An excellent choice for those looking to sink into a decadent story that won’t let them go.”—Sara Hashem, author of The Jasad Heir

"Captivating and deadly, Mistress of Lies enthralls from the very first page. Twisted through with the darkest of secrets. . . a powerful exploration of race, class and injustice."—Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins On Their Bones

"A dark, delicate, beauty of a novel, with all the edges of sharpened steel."—K.S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro

“An exquisitely crafted, bloodthirsty decadence of gothic romance and cunning political intrigue. Enright weaves a fantasy that is utterly unputdownable."—Ashley Shuttleworth, author of The Hollow Star Saga

"Sensual and sinister, Mistress of Lies had me by the throat. This class conscious political fantasy speaks to the diasporic longing for recognition and connection, and the constant balancing of identity and integration in a very special way."—Gabriella Buba, author of Saints of Storm and Shadow

"Glittering darkly with facets of magic, romance, and deep lore, K. M. Enright's Mistress of Lies is a seductive and blood-soaked jewel of a debut."—Lyra Selene, author of A Feather So Black

I’m looking forward to the next installment.

I really love the world and magic system. It was dark and bloody and definitely not for the faint of heart. The characters were complex and compelling. The political intrigue and workings were super interesting. As much as I loved the romance I honestly could have done with less of it and more politics or world building. I found the writing to be very engaging and I do look forward to the next installment.